Ya hay acuerdo sobre el riesgo en el Indico

PIRACY RISK AREA ENLARGED

Employers and unions have reached a new deal over pay and an expansion of the IBF High Risk Area.

The geographical coverage of the IBF High Risk Area has been extended under a deal hammered out by unions and employer representatives.

The new IBF Extended Risk Zone Map covers the same region as the UK Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) voluntary reporting area.

Effective 1 April 2012 the eastern edge of the zone will extend to 78° E, as far south as 10° S and as far north as 26° N.

The western border of the zone runs from the coastline at the border of Djibouti and Somalia to position 11° 48 N, 45 E and includes the Gulf of Aden.

The deal was agreed on Friday between the International Maritime Employers' Committee (IMEC) and the International Transport Workers' Federation.

All parties agreed that vessels under IBF agreements are required to adopt "best management practice as a minimum standard of protection."

During the period of transit in the high-risk area seafarers will be entitled to compensation of 100% of the basic wage. In the event of death and disability compensation is doubled.

The International Bargaining Forum (IBF) also took the opportunity to call upon governments to "enforce the right of safe, free and unhindered passage".

"The issue of piracy is one of paramount importance not only to the maritime industry, but also to the supply of goods worldwide," said IMEC Secretary General Giles Heimann.

"Yet again, it has been clear that the representative organisations of both the shipowners and seafarers are united in their condemnation of the terrible physical and mental effects of piracy on seafarers and the impact that this is having also on free passage of ships."

Fuente: Tradewinds